Germany displace Brazil as World Cup favs with Neymar ruled out
Published:Brazil’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Colombia to set-up a semi final against Germany came at a devastating price, as their best player of the tournament Neymar suffered a fractured bone in his back and will play no further part in the competition.
Had Brazil – who came through their toughest examination of the tournament to date against a very dangerous Colombian side – made it into the last four with Neymar still available, then the hosts’ long-standing position as favourites would only have solidified.
However, without the Barcelona star to call upon for the final stages of the tournament, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Selecao have slipped behind next opponents Germany in the outright betting.
The former Chelsea boss was also dealt another blow as skipper and defensive stalwart Thiago Silva will be suspended for their semi-final clash against Germany in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday, following a needless yellow card.
Brazil are now considered 12/5 shots to win their home World Cup, while Joachim Low’s Die Mannschaft have since rocketed into 9/4 for glory, after squeezing past France 1-0 in a drab quarter final.
The firm have also priced the Germans up as marginal 13/8 favourites to beat Brazil next, with the Samba Boys considered a 7/4 chance and the 90-minute draw a 9/4 poke.
Although Brazil played their best game of the tournament in a feisty encounter against a James Rodriguez-inspired Colombia, it’s difficult to see what Scolari can do to replace his talisman.
Neymar, 22, was Brazil’s top scorer with four goals at the finals, but can no longer win the Golden Boot either as Rodriguez increased his own haul to six after replying from the penalty spot for Los Cafeteros.
Although the Monaco midfielder is also out of the competition he’s still the 1/1 market leader to claim the tournament’s top-scorer prize.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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